December 2013 Trail Conditions

[hoffsquared]

Any reports of conditions from MVT up FMT to WOD (Crystal City to Bluemont Junction)?

Didn’t ride today but would like to tomorrow.

Thanks.

[Mikey]

@Dickie 71649 wrote:

…. how is the WOD from Gallows to the wooden bridge over Leesburg Pike?

I would imagine still like this (it’s pretty shaded)[ATTACH=CONFIG]4261[/ATTACH]
photo credit – dirt

[americancyclo]

@Dickie 71649 wrote:

to the wooden bridge over Leesburg Pike?

It’s route 7/Broad St there.
And Citizen’s Bridge, but I doubt the name will take off since it hasn’t already.

[consularrider]

@hoffsquared 71650 wrote:

Any reports of conditions from MVT up FMT to WOD (Crystal City to Bluemont Junction)?

Didn’t ride today but would like to tomorrow.

Thanks.

I’m headed out that way now and will report later this evening. From this morning the worst issues were the sections with the airport overpasses and between West Glebe and Shirlington.

[Jason B]

@hoffsquared 71650 wrote:

Any reports of conditions from MVT up FMT to WOD (Crystal City to Bluemont Junction)?

Didn’t ride today but would like to tomorrow.

Thanks.

Just rode it and it was fine. There is ice on the wood bridges on the WOD past Columbia, but not enough to deter you from riding.

[mikoglaces]

@Jason B 71656 wrote:

Just rode it and it was fine. There is ice on the wood bridges on the WOD past Columbia, but not enough to deter you from riding.

Did you (or anyone) ride the WOD from Custis to Columbia Pike and how is it?

[TwoWheelsDC]

Ho.lee.sheeeeiiiiiit. Custis west of Veitch was soooooo bad! Uphill to the turnoff, the trail was in great shape, but going up the hill at McCoy Park was scary. The one other rider I passed was off her bike walking, and I eventually did the same. Once I got to the top of the hill, it appeared to be that bad all the way to Spout Run, so I ditched to Adams and took surface streets the rest of the way. Given the forecasted temps, it looks like I’ll be doing that for the rest of the week.

[Dirt]

W&OD from Lee Highway to Custis junction is mostly clear except for bridges. The first climb of the Custis up from I-66 is clear. There’s patchy ice between that and the Fairfax Drive Connector.

[ebubar]

@TwoWheelsDC 71660 wrote:

Ho.lee.sheeeeiiiiiit. Custis west of Veitch was soooooo bad! Uphill to the turnoff, the trail was in great shape, but going up the hill at McCoy Park was scary. The one other rider I passed was off her bike walking, and I eventually did the same. Once I got to the top of the hill, it appeared to be that bad all the way to Spout Run, so I ditched to Adams and took surface streets the rest of the way. Given the forecasted temps, it looks like I’ll be doing that for the rest of the week.

Humbug. Any suggestions for alternate routes from Key Bridge to get over to Marymount University from the assembled riders? My usual route has been to cross Key Bridge and take the Custis to around Lorcom/Old Dominion and then bail to the sidewalk to get to North Glebe. Since I don’t live in the area, I know next to NOTHING about the roads around there. I’ll plan to leave early (7 AM for a noon exam) so i’ll have plenty of time to explore a new/safe route.

[hozn]

W&OD west of EFC metro still had quite a bit of frozen slush — maybe 50% of the surface? Further west, out past Vienna was probably more like 2/3 ice cover still. Much faster ride than this AM on the whole, but still not something I would ride without studs.

[mikoglaces]

@ebubar 71662 wrote:

Humbug. Any suggestions for alternate routes from Key Bridge to get over to Marymount University from the assembled riders? My usual route has been to cross Key Bridge and take the Custis to around Lorcom/Old Dominion and then bail to the sidewalk to get to North Glebe. Since I don’t live in the area, I know next to NOTHING about the roads around there. I’ll plan to leave early (7 AM for a noon exam) so i’ll have plenty of time to explore a new/safe route.

It’s a straight shot up Lee Hwy. I hardly ever do it due to traffic, but last night was one of those rare times I have and the traffic was far less bad than I remembered. You could also ride Lee to Spout Run, then left on Lorcom Lane, and take that to Lee Hwy. Right on Lee just a bit and then right on Old Dominion.

[guga31bb]

Yep I attempted the beginning of Custis and saw how bad the overpasses were and bailed around Adams and then took Lee Hwy. I hate taking Lee (prior to this week, the last time I took it I was hit by a car) but the ice is even worse.

[ebubar]

@guga31bb 71669 wrote:

Yep I attempted the beginning of Custis and saw how bad the overpasses were and bailed around Adams and then took Lee Hwy. I hate taking Lee (prior to this week, the last time I took it I was hit by a car) but the ice is even worse.

Thats what would stop me from taking Lee. I don’t like cars that aim for me, and cars in northern VA seem to be drawn to me, especially Prius’. Has anyone taken Wilson instead? I’m considering that as an alternative. I don’t mind a few extra miles for peace of mind. In fact, I might prefer it

[myoglobinologist]

Bluemont Jct peel-off from W&OD was v. icy this morning. I rode slowly but watched one runner fall down there.

The same intersection was Ok this evening but the (wooden) bridges over the creek were heavily rutted and frozen solid.

[DismalScientist]

Look at the map on bikearlington.com. Key Blvd. is somewhat better than the bike lanes on Wilson. Bike lanes on Fairfax from Clarendon to Ballston are fine. You can probably take something like Stafford or Utah north to Lee near the west end of Lorcum.

(Once you know the street naming convention in Arlington it is very difficult to get seriously lost.)

[Author]

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